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A/n here we have a collection of on shots regarding what might be in Reid's messenger bag. This first chapter is set sometime in the first season.

Headbands and Hairpins

Garcia decided as she hurried down the hall to her office, to never say something like, "It's a glorious spring day. Nothing can go wrong on such a day as this," ever again.

She surveyed the red chiffon rose that had fallen from her brand new headband, and sighed. She'd found it in a fabulous little shop in Alexandria, packed to the rafters with wonderful vintage clothing and accessories. Even the name was fabulous, "Alice's Attic."

"Yeah, and Alice guaranteed her stuff is authentic and well kept."

She inspected the headband and realized the flower had been glued on rather than sewn. "Should have known," she said through clenched teeth.

"Should've known what?" Reid asked as he came around the corner and passed the vending machine just outside the door to the BAU bullpen.

"You can't count on anyone anymore. This stupid rose fell off my headband and I just bought it yesterday. Sure, it's vintage but where's the quality anymore?" She brandished the yellow and red headband in his direction.

Reid raised both eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, men, you never understand the pull of fashion."

He took in her red skirt with yellow flowers and green leaves. A yellow peasant blouse topped it and her hair was pulled back and up in a high ponytail with ringlets around her face. Her glasses matched the blouse and she wore painfully high, scarlet shoes that looked to him like she might tip over and fall at any moment. Red lipstick covered her lips and a chunky pendant shaped like a red heart with matching earrings completed the look.

He saw how JJ and Elle dressed, as well as the other female agents in the Bureau and he thought that Garcia wasn't like them at all. He didn't know much about fashion, but he thought that Garcia had a style all her own. He opened his mouth to say so, but she interrupted him.

"Dr. Reid, you're very nice, but you don't understand."

"I didn't say anything," he pointed out.

"No, but you were about to," she said.

"How do you know?"

"Because I can see it on your cute face," she teased.

He decided not to attempt a reply. Instead, he pulled his messenger bag from his shoulder and reached inside.

"Here," he said and handed her a small piece of metal that looked suspiciously like a bobby pin.

"You have a bobby pin in your bag," Garcia asked.

"Well, yes, there are all kinds of uses for bobby pins."

She put both hands on her hips. "Are you planning to pick someone's lock?"

"No," he squeaked indignantly. "There're more uses for bobby pins that picking locks."

"Like holding a fancy hairdo in place."

"I wouldn't know about that."

"I know I'm going to regret asking, but what other uses?

"You can use it to squeeze out toothpaste by sliding it over the end and pushing the paste toward the top. That way you don't waste it."

"Is that it?"

"You can secure a loose end of a belt, or clip an open bag of chips. They make great money clips and you can dip then ends in nail polish to make great fingernail art."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "What would you know about fingernail art?"

He was saved from answering when JJ walked by in a tight grey sweater and a blue pencil skirt that conformed to her small body. His face went bright red and he coughed. "Hi, JJ," he stuttered.

"Hi, Spence," she smiled brightly at him. "Hey, Garcia, great headband."

"It was until the rose fell off. I'm going to see if I can use this bobby pin to fix it."

They left Reid standing there as if he didn't exist. That was okay. He was used to it and JJ had smiled at him after all. Overall, it was a glorious spring day, the kind of day where nothing could go wrong.